Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-01-06
SANTA CLAUS AND THE CAT.

Kris krinrle Finds tn His Surprise Tha,
Some OF His Children Didn't Believe IL
Him-No stockings at the Fireplace.
The snow had settled thickly on the
house-top, and Santa Clans. who had
alighted hurriedly from his sleigh, was
unpleasantly conscious that he was get.
ting his feet wet. '.Dear me-" said he,
feeling blindly about IN the eight-inoh
fall of snow. this is very distressing.
fully believe have lost my way
ITO be sure you have" said a small.
sleek voice. ''And why shouldn't you:
I've lost mine.''
'Oh! have you?" continued Santa
Claus. cropping around toward the small
of his back in search of the patent buckle
by which to relieve himself from his
cumbersome load of snow-covcred toys;
''ihen what's to be dOne?"
who are you. anyway" sad the
small, sleek voice.
why, bless my heart" replied the
other. ''ion't you know? Who on earth
would you expect to meet on the roof OF
house unon Christmas Eve if not
Santa CLAUSE
"Well. to tell the exact truth" said
the stranger. Il was expecting to meet
Maria. But it's all right; I'm men,
Der of the Claus family myself. I'm
the Cat"
you don't mean it?'' replied Santa
Claus, who by this time had found the
buckle and had dropped his load OF
toys with the dullest kind of thud you
can imagine upon the snow mutiied
roof. ''But come to think of it now,
I've often seen your photograph taken
with background of chimney pots.
It's singular we've never met before. I"
Not the least bit singular" said the
Cat. ''that you haven't met ME. I've
taken care that you shouldn't You
are addicted to pea-shooters and pop
guns. You also carry silver bells,
strung upon BITS of blue ribbon. and,
what is worse, you usually have in stock
large variety OF what are known as
cats blankets l bear you no personal
luminosity, but have learned that your
Christmas visits are not conducive to
nv happiness. 1t was only Christmas
before last that You lett for Miss Jessie
q blue and white striped flannel gar
ment. bound all around with u line cord
OF white leather. You had been careful
to pin upon this article IN explanatory
note setting forth that it was a
Christmas blanket for Fido, the spaniel.
Fido never wore it. He died from the
ELECTS of Christmas breakfast consist
ing exclusively of fig paste. Iwore that
blanket. and carry the mark of its
girth upon the fur of my stomach to
this day. You also left upon that occa-
Sion a small bow and several blunt
headed arrows for Master Fred: at least
Won said they were for Master Fred.
though he decided the arrows were for
me. It's al! right now. however. and
hear Yen no malice. You'll find no
Gin l,'rcn here this night"
mo children" repeated Santa Clans
in dismay. ''Why, 1 have q sack of
things for Jessie and Fred"
Spare yourself the trouble" said the
Cat, arching her back to such an angle
rs to make it almost impossible for the
snow-tlakes to find Judgment upon it.
They're not expecting you. The truth
is they don't believe in you. know it
has rude sound to tell an cd gentle
man so to his face, but they think you
arc only Vague Tradition"
''Bless my heart, said Santa Claus.
again shaking the clustering snow from
his bundle of toys; '.you alarm me.''
Il don't WONDER rcjoined the Cat;
''but Just fancy my position in the
household. Day after day am COM
PEELED to sit in speechless amazement
ut the arrogant ignorance that is dis
played beneath this roof, and not by the
children alone. for l assure you, good
sir. that am daily compelled to listen
to assertions from older people, which
make me vince as though about three
inches of my tail had been unexpectedly
run through a rubber clothcs-wringer,"
.'This is indeed an age of scepticism."
broke in Santa Claus. Il suppose it is
not generally believed that my reindecrs
have magic hoo!s.
"No." replied the Cal; ''nor even
that blessings have nimble wings; such
blessings. for instance, as faith and hope
and trust-the sweet possessions of in.
nocent childhood. Surely il this were
believed and understood. your term of
sovereignty over the children would be
as long as parents could make IT,"
The snow mad now ceased falling and
old Santa Claus, kn ting his shaggy
eyebrows, bent forward to obtain
better view of his philosophical COM
panion. "Bless my heart" said he,
:.have been dreaming? see no Cat
It's only the queer-shaped chimney-pot.
creaking in the wind Hoity-toity,
think I'm growing old" So saving. he
SWING himself. bundle and all, mp to
the top of the chimney. and. with a
little chucklc that echoed softly like the
sound of a mothers kiss through the
snowy air. dropped out Of sight. Five
minutes Later his big tur hood came
slowly mp on! of the chimney into the
frosty night. 1.-The Cat was right"
said be, as he ciambered down upon the
roof and into MS Sic gh There were